Estate Planning in Pikesville, Maryland

Why Is Estate Planning Important?

Most people have worked hard for their Pikesville home, property, and other assets, and they want to see that those assets remain in their hands or in the hands of people they love and care about. Many people have very clear ideas about how those assets should be handled and what ultimately ought to happen to them. Unfortunately, some people never take the time to focus on such issues, yet just about everybody is able to make decisions about their assets when called on to do so.

At Hammond and Associates, our elder law attorneys help our clients throughout Maryland think about and prepare for the future, so you can focus on your needs and those of your loved ones. We’ll help ensure that you make the decisions about what happens if one of those “what if circumstances” occurs. You can implement strategies that will protect you, your interests and the people you love and care about.

If you’re interested in estate planning and you live in Pikesville or the surrounding area, contact Hammond and Associates! We are more than happy to walk you through the estate planning process.

Benefits of Estate Planning in Pikesville

An important part of estate planning involves thinking about and deciding what will happen over time with respect to your assets. Estate planning:

Helps you maintain control. You need to keep control of your Pikesville property while you are alive regardless of your age, health, or financial condition.

Provides instructions. A properly executed estate plan will lay out instructions for how you and your loved ones should be taken care of in the event of a disability.

Ensures a rightful recipient. Estate Planning will help guarantee that you can give what you have to who you want, when you want, and the way you want.

Protects you from changes in the law. A well thought out and regularly reviewed estate plan can help protect you from changes in the law that affect the taxation and protection of your assets.

Keeps you and your loved ones safe. Whether facing unnecessary court costs, professional fees, or taxes to the state of Maryland, estate planning can help keep you and your family safe.

Who Will Make Decisions if You Can’t?

Decisions about assets are important to most people, but there is more to estate planning than deciding what to do with various assets. An additional question to consider is who will make decisions in the future if you no longer are able to make decisions for yourself.

Estate Planning Helps When You’re Incapable of Making Decisions Yourself

As unpleasant as it is to think about, all of us ultimately will reach a place where we can no longer make decisions for ourselves. Sometimes this happens sooner than we expect. Serious automobile accidents occur every day as do serious injuries from falls. And of course there are terrible injuries that can occur from medical conditions including heart attacks and strokes. Those of us who are fortunate enough to avoid all of these horrible things eventually will pass away. So one way or another, all of us will get to a point where we can’t make decisions, including decisions about our Pikesville property.

This is why estate planning plays a crucial role in the future of your assets. Take the time now to plan for the future by contacting Hammond and Associates for assistance in Pikesville!

Think About It & Act On It—Estate Planning in Pikesville is Important

Most people know who might best carry out their wishes if they’re no longer able to do so. Not surprisingly almost everybody has thoughts about exactly what should be done in certain specific instances. People also have general thoughts about how decisions should be made. During the decision-making stage of the estate planning process, a person can make those determinations or provide guidance concerning how decisions are to be made with respect to financial matters, living arrangements, medical care, and other matters.

Although there are many projects in life where DIY planning can save you time and money—legal actions aren’t one of them. Reduce costly mistakes in the estate planning and estate administration (probate) process and hire knowledgeable legal representation. Without proper estate planning and trust litigation experience, it’s easy to make hasty decisions that don’t take all financial and legal matters into consideration.

Call the elder law attorneys at Hammond and Associates today at 301-861-4555 for legal assistance when estate planning in Pikesville, and the surrounding areas in Maryland!

Important Documents for Estate Planning

Many Pikesville residents implement estate planning decisions through the execution of the following documents.

Other Important Documents

In addition to these documents, there are many other things that can be done to implement estate planning decisions including the use of trusts, deeds, and other documents that have legally binding effect.

If you need help documenting your estate planning decisions in the Pikesville, MD area, contact Hammond and Associates’ estate planning legal team today!

Can I Change My Will and Other Documents?

It is a good idea to review (and consider whether you want to make changes to) your estate planning decisions every few years and when important events like marriage, birth of a child, adoption, divorce, or the death of a loved one occur.

Making Adjustments to Your Estate Planning Decisions

For the most part you can change your estate planning decisions by having prepared and executing (signing) a new Last Will and Testament, Durable Financial Power of Attorney and, an Advance Directive. But there are important exceptions to this general rule. You will not be able to change these important documents (or other legal documents) if you have lost the mental capacity to do so. In addition to the issue of mental capacity, there are estate planning decision you can make including the use of trusts and deeds. Depending upon exactly what you do (or did), some of these decisions can be changed and others can’t.

Estate Planning Guidance & Assistance in Pikesville, Maryland

Estate Planning, like other areas of the law, is complex. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Working with an experienced attorney who handles estate planning matters is important—and that’s where Hammond and Associates comes in. Our elder law team can provide the support and help you need to make and implement estate planning decisions. We would like to have the opportunity to discuss our services with you. We have provided estate planning services throughout Montgomery County, Frederick County, Howard County, Prince George’s County, and the surrounding areas.

Our principal office is located in Bethesda, but for the convenience of our clients, we can arrange for conference rooms for client meetings elsewhere. If you live outside of the Bethesda area and would like to meet with Hammond and Associates, we can set up a meeting in the following locations: Rockville, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Fulton, Bowie, Columbia, Frederick, National Harbor, Annapolis, Pikesville, Owings Mills, Towson, and Hunt Valley.

Contact us online or call us at 301-861-4555 and we can discuss how our elder law attorneys can provide assistance with estate planning in the Pikesville area. We want to help you protect your assets and loved ones in Maryland!

Hammond and Associates has conference rooms available for meeting clients throughout Maryland.

The information on this website is for informational purposes only; it is deemed accurate but not guaranteed. It does not constitute professional advice. All information is subject to change at any time without notice. Contact us for complete details.